Ashley Hicke

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Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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  • in reply to: LGBTQ and anxious #11648
    Ashley Hicke
    Participant

      I used to worry about this same thing whenever I was in a same sex relationship. It took some time, but I eventually felt confident in my sexuality and it allowed me to feel empowered whenever I displayed affection in public. I feel like this can really depend on where you’re from though. I’m from a more liberal area, so stuff like this isn’t looked down upon very often and it became pretty easy to feel confident. If you’re from a more conservative area though, I can imagine it’s more scary to be affectionate in public and more people may be judgmental. I think if this is the case, it may be helpful to find a community of other LGBTQ individuals to feel less alone. I joined different organizations and started attending drag shows and stuff and it really helped me come out of my shell and feel welcomed!

      in reply to: Long term or short term #11647
      Ashley Hicke
      Participant

        I’d say mine is most likely a mix of both. I get situational depression, but sometimes I also get seasonal depression so it lasts a few months. I’ve learned that situational depression usually passes on its own or I can just find ways to bring myself back to reality. I haven’t found a way to deal with my seasonal depression though. I think a big issue is I have been reluctant to try therapy for a long time, so this may be something I should just force myself to do.

        in reply to: Online school during COVID #11646
        Ashley Hicke
        Participant

          I’m in the same boat as you Lindsay. Some classes have been either really difficult online, and others like lab classes feel pointless and a waste of time. I wish the professors, faculty, etc had our best interest in mind and would try to support us more in our education, while keeping in mind that our time is valuable.

          in reply to: Anxiety around the holidays #11643
          Ashley Hicke
          Participant

            I completely understand what both of you are going through. My family has been pretty distant. I live with my mom and my grandpa right now, so it’s just the three of us here. My mom and I are mostly home, and my grandpa is always home because he’s disabled. The only other family I’ve seen is my aunt and her boyfriend but we were very cautious. On the other hand, my boyfriend comes from a larger family. He has a large household, and for holidays they also invite a few relatives and friends. This means that even 20 or more people may be there at once. It’s really stressful and frustrating, but I feel like I have to go out of respect. I wish I could politely decline, but I don’t want my boyfriend or his family to feel that I don’t like them. My boyfriend is definitely very respectful and understanding so we try to distance ourselves when guests are over, but this isn’t always easy when there’s a lot of people present.

            in reply to: Holidays and the virus #11642
            Ashley Hicke
            Participant

              I feel the same way. I was supposed to have a small gathering, and then it ended up being even smaller than planned after my aunt decided to be cautious and stay home for thanksgiving. I have a small family as it is, so it isn’t too different, but even being away from friends makes it feel weird. It’s also very hard for me to separate my work and relaxing time during holidays because everything’s at home now.

              in reply to: Share your story, thoughts, photos, videos, or comments. #11631
              Ashley Hicke
              Participant

                That definitely happens to me pretty often. I get into weird phases where I’m really upset for no apparent reason, and then other times I am perfectly content. I definitely think it’s also a seasonal thing, because I am definitely more content and happy in the winter and fall than I am in the summer.

                in reply to: Social Anxiety #11630
                Ashley Hicke
                Participant

                  I love these ideas! I try using the second one regarding going out with safe people a lot, and that’s definitely helped. I have an Apple Watch but I rarely use it, so maybe I’ll start wearing it more often so that I can try out the breathing app you mentioned!

                  in reply to: Bisexuality and relationships #11629
                  Ashley Hicke
                  Participant

                    I truly appreciate your advice and input, and it’s really nice knowing that people are experiencing similar things. I do have a pretty trusting relationship, so hopefully I can tell him how I feel soon. I just worry he will feel that I’m not fully dedicated to him or content with being only with him, which is definitely not the case.

                    in reply to: Health and Fitness During COVID #11619
                    Ashley Hicke
                    Participant

                      I was originally hoping COVID would give me more time to exercise and be more healthy. Unfortunately, I think my mental health took a toll on me and made me very unmotivated, despite having more time. I hope that starting in 2021 I can take better care of myself, since the lack of physical activity and the amount of unhealthy food I have been eating have definitely caught up with me.

                      in reply to: Hello #11607
                      Ashley Hicke
                      Participant

                        Hi, I have lost one parent. It happened a few years ago for me too (2016 to be exact) but I still struggle a lot with this loss. I have not lost both of my parents so I’m sure your grief is even heavier than mine, but I do understand the type of grief associated with losing a parent.

                        in reply to: Share your story, thoughts, photos, videos, or comments. #11585
                        Ashley Hicke
                        Participant

                          How do you deal with anger management? Sometimes it feels like my brain has no control over my words/actions when I am angry. Is there anything that you have discovered is helpful to calming yourself down and dealing with anger in a productive way, rather than hurting yourself or others?

                          in reply to: How are you dealing with your Anxiety? #11582
                          Ashley Hicke
                          Participant

                            A lot of times I simply deal with my anxiety by trying to distract myself. This is obviously easier said than done, but sometimes it truly helps to just get away and focus on something else. I usually may just watch TV, listen to music, or practice any other from of self-care.

                            in reply to: Online school during COVID #11575
                            Ashley Hicke
                            Participant

                              As an online schooler myself (college student) it is definitely not an ideal learning environment, even for myself. There are plenty of distractions, it is difficult to organize yourself and your schedule, and the stress feels even worse. I can’t imagine what it’s like for younger children in elementary school who haven’t even experienced these types of responsibilities before. Hopefully it is a teaching moment for everyone, and we all come out stronger.

                            Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)